Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Worlds scariest path - El Camino del Ray

Compare cables section on Whitney to this!
http://www.wimp.com/scariestpath/

more info at
http://www.vacationideas.me/europe/el-caminito-del-rey-most-dangerous-walkway-world/

enjoy, Harvey

I've seen this video - or similar - several times over the past few years. Makes my palms sweat. I recall reading that the Spanish government has closed this several times - usually after a tourist takes a fatal header into the depths. They let a few months pass, then re-open it. Classic government solution . . .

I think that safety cable runs the entire length but, given the looks of the rest of the construction, I don't think I'd trust it.

My 10 year-old daughter just watched this and said, "Yeah, world's scariest path - world's dumbest guy"!

But the good news is . . . no acclimatization issues!

It didnt look like the guy filming was cliping in to the cables. am I wrong?

Not a chance at the pace he was moving. He would have to stop at each anchor ring, unclip, and re-clip on the other side. The dude was gliding seamlessly.

Showoff . . .

If you look closely at the cable you can see if moving, I think he may be clipped in, one heck of a via ferrata route. I saw this clip a few years ago and thought he did it free. But with the ease of editing today.........

Not to boast, but not that scary...really. Walked the El Camino many a time. Only a few places where it's nice to have that thin little cable. Yes, there are holes where rock fall has taken out the "trail" and that kinda makes you think, but otherwise smooth sailing. Saw many a climbers "soloing" the thing, moving fast past the tourists like me.

Was in Granada, Andalucia in May, and had wanted to check it out after having seen the video, but didn't have the chance. Maybe next time, but just to look at it...it was officially reopened to tourists this month, according to Wikipedia.

Ah, Plume....that is just an opinion...really...

This person seems to have a differing view. I wonder what the opinion of the 4 people who fell to their death was?


http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=37869/

The same has been said of the Main trail in winter, the MR in spring, etc etc. Always nice to qualify a statement.

Expro,

I wonder if the safety cable, although presumably newer, is actually in any better shape than the decrepit path? If you fell, you'd probably zipper out all the pro or pendulum 500 ft into another wall.

thanks for that last link with gorgeous still pictures, and beautiful views of the slot canyon. The only slot canyon I have been through is the nice tourist route on terrra firma through Antelope Canyon in Utah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope_Canyon

Harvey

This trail isn't the "world's scariest", merely the world's most poorly maintained. If it was in good shape, it may get your pulse up a little but would not cause a heart attack.

What would the Whitney main trail be like if the cables were never put in or slides were left intact? For that matter, the Half Dome trail would be suicidal for most people if the cables weren't put up or the steps on the "Quarter Dome" were left to decay.

For me, a trail is truely "scary" if it is inherently so, even under optimal conditions and top maintenance. A couple heart pounders that I've been on include the Eagle Creek Trail in Oregon and the ladders (unroped) up/down the cliffs to the Mer de Glace in Chamonix/Mt. Blanc.